UK Pledges £3M In Aid For Quake-Hit Afghans

KABUL (Pajhwok): The British Foreign Secretary has expressed concern over the situation of earthquake victims in eastern Afghanistan, announcing an additional £3 million in aid to support humanitarian partners working on the ground.

In a statement, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said:“The situation in Afghanistan following the recent earthquake remains grave and as aid workers finally manage to reach the remote and worst-affected areas, the extent of the damage and human impact is becoming clear.”

She added:“That is why the UK is providing an additional £3 million to support humanitarian partners already operating on the ground, including UNFPA, the International Red Cross, Afghanaid and War Child.”

According to Cooper, as with all UK humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, the funds will be disbursed through established partnerships with international organisations and British NGOs.

The support, she noted, will ensure access to healthcare, clean water and emergency shelter, while also assisting women and girls through the provision of dignity kits and reproductive health kits.

With winter approaching, the Foreign Secretary stressed the importance of a collective effort to meet the needs of those rendered vulnerable by the disaster.

Around two weeks ago, a powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck the provinces of Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, Panjshir, and Nuristan, with Kunar suffering the heaviest casualties and damage.

Earlier, Roza Otunbayeva, head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), warned that without international aid, earthquake victims in the east of the country would struggle to survive the coming winter.

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